Your Pakistan. Your Journey.
What this journey costs
Rs 100,000 to Rs 105,000
- Toyota Fortuner, four-wheel-drive diesel
- Rs 100,000
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Rs 105,000
Published fares for this route, by vehicle. Your exact pick-up and drop-off set the fixed all-in fare, which you see before you pay. Check that passengers and luggage fit the vehicle; a change to the route, time, stops or vehicle after booking needs an agreed revised fare before travel.
Hunza is 550 to 650 km from Islamabad depending on which way you go, and between fourteen and twenty hours of driving. Almost nobody does it in one push, and nobody should. The standard arrangement is a car with a driver for several days, splitting the northbound run over two, and that is the shape this page assumes.
There are two roads. The Karakoram Highway, the N-35, runs year round through Mansehra, Besham, Dasu, Chilas and Jaglot to Gilgit and on to Karimabad. The alternative goes Mansehra, Balakot, Naran and over the Babusar Pass to rejoin the KKH at Chilas, and it is shorter, higher and open for only part of the year.
Babusar, and why the date matters
Babusar Pass sits above 13,000 feet. It closes through the winter and reopens when the snowpack allows: for the 2026 season it opened on 25 May, and in a previous year it reopened after a seven-month closure. Practitioner guidance puts the usual window at late May or early June through to around 10 October, but the date moves every year and should be treated as a window rather than a promise. When it is open, the authorities advise daylight travel only and mechanically sound vehicles, because of the sharp turns, the steep sections and the avalanche risk.
If your travel falls anywhere near the edges of that window, plan on the KKH and treat Babusar as an upgrade if conditions allow on the day. A route that depends on a pass being open is not a plan.
The KKH in practice
Check current Karakoram Highway conditions, weather and closures before travel. Gilgit-Baltistan is subject to seasonal road closures and the FCDO describes remote-area roads in Pakistan as frequently blocked by landslides. This is not a reason to avoid the journey. It is a reason to travel with a driver who knows the road, to start early, and to build slack into an itinerary rather than booking to the hour.
The usual staging is Islamabad to Chilas or Besham on day one and on to Karimabad on day two, though drivers must adjust the plan to current conditions. Confirm the complete itinerary, vehicle variation and accepted fare before booking.
What the travel advice says about the KKH
Alongside the landslide risk there is a formal advisory on part of this route, and it is better stated than buried. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel on the Karakoram Highway between Mansehra and Chilas, naming Battagram, Besham City, Dasu and Sazin. That is the year-round route described above. Checked against gov.uk on 3 September 2026.
Hunza itself is not restricted. Gilgit-Baltistan does not appear on the FCDO list of places it advises against travelling to, and neither does Hunza or Gilgit. The advisory is about one length of highway, not the valley at the end of it.
This is the second reason the Babusar route matters, beyond being shorter. Rejoining the KKH at Chilas puts you north of the named section, so in the Babusar season there is a way to reach Hunza that avoids it entirely. Outside that season there is not.
None of this is a legal bar, and for Pakistani nationals and residents the KKH is an ordinary road. For a foreign passport holder the practical consequence is insurance: travel against FCDO advice could invalidate your travel insurance, which is worth resolving with your insurer before booking. Tell us your dates and we will tell you which road they allow. If we would not run it, we will say so rather than take the booking.
Which vehicle, and why it is not a sedan
For the KKH to Hunza the working choice is a Toyota Fortuner, and specifically the 2.8 litre diesel four-wheel-drive rather than the 2.7 petrol, which is two-wheel-drive. A Land Cruiser is the step up for expedition work, for Deosai, or where comfort over long days is the priority; it returns something in the region of five to ten kilometres per litre, which at current fuel prices is a visible part of the cost. For larger groups a Grand Cabin, sold as thirteen passengers plus a driver, is the practical answer on the paved sections. A hatchback or a small sedan is not suitable for this journey and we will not offer one for it.
Khunjerab, and a common mistake
The Khunjerab Pass on the Chinese border used to close from 1 December to 31 March under the 1985 border agreement. Since 2 December 2024 it has officially been open year round. Both halves of that need saying together, because traders quoted in the same reporting doubted that winter facilities on the Pakistani side match the policy, and at least one 2026 travel guide still describes the Sost to Khunjerab section as closed from November to April. The official position has changed; whether the road is a sensible winter destination is a separate question, and the answer depends on the week.
This is a multi-day booking
Fourteen to twenty hours of driving cannot be done responsibly in one day, and a driver who offers to do it is not the driver you want. Plan two days northbound, a driver who stays with the vehicle throughout, and slack in the itinerary for a landslide or a weather day.
Enter your exact pickup address and Pakistan-local time to see the fare and book. You pay at secure checkout, and your card is only charged once the vehicle and driver are confirmed.
The journey in figures
- Distance
- 550 to 650 km depending on the route taken
- Drive time
- 14 to 20 hours, normally split over two days
- Road, all year
- N-35 Karakoram Highway via Besham, Dasu and Chilas
- Road, summer only
- N-15 via Naran and the Babusar Pass
The Babusar Pass sits above 13,000 feet and closes for the winter. It reopened for the 2026 season on 25 May, and the usual window runs from late May or early June to around 10 October, moving every year with the snowpack. Authorities advise daylight travel only. Check current Karakoram Highway conditions, weather and closures before travel.
Every way of making this journey
We are one row in this table, and not the cheapest one. Use these reference options to compare a current offer for your own journey.
| Option | Typical cost | Time | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus, NATCO or Faisal Movers | Rs 4,000 - 10,000 | 16 to 22 h | From Pir Wadhai in Rawalpindi. Wide range across third-party sources. |
| Fly to Gilgit, then drive | — | About 1 h in the air | Gilgit flights are weather-dependent in the same way Skardu flights are. |
| inDrive City to City, to Gilgit | Rs 8,800 | About 12 h | Gilgit only. There is no published Hunza route. |
| iDrive.pk, car with a driver | Rs 100,000 to Rs 105,000 | — | The accepted fare covers the agreed journey and stated inclusions. Once assigned, review the driver photograph and vehicle registration, confirm the meeting instructions, and do not board a different vehicle. Check passenger and luggage fit against the approved vehicle details. |
Comparison reference date: August 31, 2026. These figures are not a current offer. Check the operator’s current fare, timetable, booking requirements and inclusions before travel.
Which vehicle actually fits
These model examples do not confirm the capacity or availability of a particular vehicle. Give the passenger count and the number and size of bags, and check the approved vehicle variation before confirmation.
- Suzuki WagonR 3 passengers, 2 cases Short city transfers on a budget. The tall boot helps more than the engine does.
- Toyota Yaris or Corolla 3 to 4 passengers, 2 to 3 large cases The workhorse. City work, airport transfers and the motorway run between Lahore and Islamabad.
- Honda BR-V 5 passengers with luggage, or 7 with almost none Family airport transfers on paved routes. The third row eats the boot, so it suits children or short hops rather than seven adults with cases. Not a mountain vehicle.
- Toyota Fortuner 5 passengers with full luggage, 7 travelling light For a mountain itinerary, confirm the actual vehicle variation, drivetrain and current route suitability before booking.
- Toyota Land Cruiser 4 to 5 passengers with full luggage Confirm the actual vehicle variation, passenger and luggage fit, and current route suitability before booking.
- Toyota Hiace Grand Cabin 13 passengers plus the driver The group and family vehicle. Gulf arrivals into Sialkot and Peshawar with heavy luggage, tour groups, weddings, long intercity runs.
- Toyota Coaster 25 to 29 passengers with hold luggage For a group journey, confirm the actual vehicle capacity and whether the accepted fare includes tolls.
How booking works
- 01 Tell us the journey Where from, where to, when, how many of you and how much luggage. Precise addresses matter more than you would think, because a Rawalpindi address and an Islamabad address twenty minutes apart are very different journeys.
- 02 Review the fare or quote Where offered, online fares and written quotes show the journey and vehicle class they cover. Check tolls, waiting time and extras before you confirm.
- 03 Check your confirmed details Keep your booking reference or written quote. Confirm the vehicle, driver where applicable, and pickup or collection instructions before travel.
- 04 You travel Follow the confirmed meeting or collection instructions. Check the vehicle and, where a driver is provided, their identity before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a travel advisory on the Karakoram Highway?
Yes, on one section. The FCDO advises against all travel on the KKH between Mansehra and Chilas via Battagram, Besham City, Dasu and Sazin, checked on 3 September 2026. Hunza, Gilgit and Gilgit-Baltistan are not on the FCDO list themselves. In the Babusar season the Naran route rejoins the KKH at Chilas, north of the named section, and avoids it; outside that season it cannot be avoided. Most UK travel insurance is void against FCDO advice.
How long does it take to drive from Islamabad to Hunza?
Between fourteen and twenty hours of driving over 550 to 650 km, depending on the route and conditions. It is normally split over two days.
Which route do you take?
The N-35 Karakoram Highway through Mansehra, Besham, Dasu, Chilas, Jaglot and Gilgit runs all year. The Naran and Babusar route is shorter and higher but only open for part of the year.
When is Babusar Pass open?
Typically late May or early June until around 10 October, but the date moves with the snowpack. It opened on 25 May for the 2026 season. Authorities advise daylight travel only and mechanically sound vehicles when it is open.
Is the Karakoram Highway open in winter?
Check current Karakoram Highway conditions and closures before travel. The standing risk is landslides rather than snow, and Gilgit-Baltistan is subject to seasonal road closures, so an itinerary needs slack in it.
Is Khunjerab Pass open in winter?
Officially yes, since 2 December 2024, replacing the old 1 December to 31 March closure. In practice, winter facilities on the Pakistani side were questioned in the same reporting and at least one 2026 travel guide still treats it as a seasonal road. Ask us about current conditions rather than relying on the policy alone.
What vehicle do you use for Hunza?
A Toyota Fortuner in 2.8 litre diesel four-wheel-drive form is the working choice; the 2.7 petrol version is two-wheel-drive and is not the same vehicle. A Land Cruiser is the step up. For groups on paved sections a Grand Cabin carries thirteen passengers plus the driver. We do not offer small cars for this route.
Does the same driver stay with us for the whole trip?
Yes. Northern trips are quoted as multi-day hire with a driver who stays with the vehicle, because a road like the KKH is not a place to change drivers mid-itinerary.
Where do you stop overnight going up?
Chilas or Besham is the usual first night, with Karimabad on the second day. Your driver will adjust that to conditions and to what you want to see on the way.
How does the bus compare?
NATCO runs from Pir Wadhai terminal in Rawalpindi, and Faisal Movers and Silk Route also serve the north. Third-party sources put Islamabad to Gilgit at Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 over eighteen to twenty hours, or about twelve hours by shared taxi, with Gilgit to Hunza a further two to three hours at Rs 300 to Rs 500. Those are wide ranges from travel sources rather than operator tariffs.
Can we fly to Gilgit and take a car from there?
Yes, and for some itineraries it is the better plan. Gilgit to Karimabad is a short run compared with the full drive. The trade-off is that northern flights are weather-dependent, so road travel also depends on current conditions and closures.
Can we go on to Khunjerab, Attabad Lake or the Passu Cones?
Yes. These are the usual onward runs from Karimabad and they are best planned as day trips from a base rather than as extensions of the arrival day.
Is the price fixed for a multi-day trip?
The accepted fare covers the agreed journey and the inclusions stated in your booking or written quote. Changes to the route, time, stops or vehicle require an agreed revised fare before travel.
Tell us the journey and we will price it
Send the route, date, passenger count and luggage details. We will show an available live price or prepare a quote with the vehicle class and terms it assumes. Check the final offer before confirming; if the journey is unavailable, we will tell you.